Flying machine



G. W. COWGILL FLYING momma Filed Aug. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 TTORFJEYS wwws G. W. CQWGELL FLYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1,923 2 Sheets-Sneak 2 Ill/VE/VTOI? @(QMQQ \N (EMF gm I By 7W r ATTORNEYS A useful Improvement in Flyin by mean I propulsive Patented Dec. 9, l l.

GEOE W. COWGILL, 0F EVAIQSTON, ILLINQIS.

FLYING MACHINE.

Application filed August 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon W. (Jowuua,- b

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Machines, of which the following is a ful clear, and exact description.

y invention relates to improvements in flying machines, and more particularly to that type of flying machine in which the wings assist in the propulsion of the craft, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a flying machine of the character described in which; the sustaining means consist of oscillating wings which also function as propellers of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flying machine of the character described having wings of peculiar contour of which a minimum amount of force is necessary to sustain the machine in the air and to drive it ahead.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flying machine of the character described which has a relatively high lifting power in proportion to its weight and size of wings.

A further object of my invention is to provide a'flying machine of the character described in which the wings are fashioned similar to the wings of a bird and in which the wing movement is similar to the movement of the wings of a bird during flight.

A further 0b ect of my invention is to provide a flying machine of the character described in which the means for moving the wings during flight is particularly novel and whlch causes thewings to closely follow the movement ofa birds wing during flight.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of my invention substantially along the line 1-1 of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the mech- 1923. Serial No. 6565M.

anism illustrated in Figure 1, a part thereof roken awa Figure 4 1s a sectional view along the line 44: of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the tail skid mechanism in operation,

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view ofone of the universal joints employed in mounting the wings of the machine,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a modified form of my invention,

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is of Figure 2.

My invention as nearly as possible embodies a construction for a flying machine in which the machine is intended to closely simulate the movement of a bird in flight. To this end it is necessary first that the wings shall be the exact shape of a birds win s so as to form air pockets with proper ang es under the wings, the function of which is to compress the air as the wings move downwardly and I provide lifting power, as well as a tendency of the wings to move forward. This air pocket structure of the wings shall be hereinafter referred to as the camber of the wings and only to the under surface of the wings not the upper surface as in the wing of the ordinary type of aeroplane.

It is necessary a section along the line 9-9 secondly that the number of cubic inches of space provided by this camber shall be proportional to the combined weight of the flying machine and passengers therein, as the number of cubic inches of air space under the birds wing are to the weight of the bird.

The third requirement shall describe the identical movement, or as nearly as possible thereto, of the movement of the birds wing during flight. This movement of the wing may be broadly described as following the path of a figure 8. Fourth, it is necessary that the weight of the machine shall be proportional to the lifting power of the wings in order to properly balance the machine and create momentum necessary for proper flight.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a fuselage 1 having an openingQ in the upper wall thereof providing a cock pit for the entrance of the aviator. This fuselage 1 is constructed as nearly as possible, as refis that the wing ,6 partially within the fuselage. tive landing wheel 8 is erences to Figures 2 and 3 will sh0w, to the contour of the body portion of the bird. I have chosen as a model the golden eagle.

This bird is possessed of a Wing that is short and broad, with a deep camber. This wing is designated as a freight wing, that is, one. capable of carrying heavy loads. A wing that is long and slender with a less exaggerated camber may be referred to as an express wing or one that is capable of very rapid flight, but'not capable of lifting extremely heavy loads. It is a known axiom that the wing area of insects and birds decreases as the size and weight of the volant animal increases. It is therefore easy to understand why small birds and insects have much larger wings in proportion to their weight than large birds. This is due I to the fact that there is scarcely any camber to the wings of tiny birds and insects to catch the air and therefore there must be a relatively large surface presented by the wing in order to fly at all. What is lacking in camber is made up by rapidity in wing motion. The tiny humming bird' is an excellent example of this Wll 1g structure since in flying, the wings are practically invisible because of the rapidity of movement,

The fuselage 1 is provided with a suitable landinggear 3 comprising a pair of wheels rotatably mounted atthe forward portion of the machine. The tail skid consists in a depending arcuate skid 4 having a fork 5 slidably and swivelly mounted thereupon and connected by means of a cable 6 to the pilot seat 7 of the fuselage. This connection 6-makes it possible for the operator to manually elevate the fork 5, as shown in Figure 5, so that the fork is adjacent the upper end ofthe tail skid 4. This is done by simply drawing the connecting member A diminucarried by the fork portion 5 which is permitted to contact with the ground when the fork is in the position shown in Figure 2, but which is free of the ground when in the position shown in Figure 5.

A pair of semi-rigid wings 9, each having shafts 10 extending longitudinally of the wings and beyond the butts of the wings, are swivelly mounted upon the fuselage 1 by means of a gimbal mechanism 11. (see Figure 6) through which the shafts 10 project. This mechanism, as reference to Figure 6 will indicate, consists in a bifurcated portion 12 secured by means of a stud bolt 13 to the fuselage 1. A ring 14 is pivotally mounted between the tines of the bifurcated portion 12 and a block 15 is pivotally mounted within the ring on diametrically opposed bearing members. The shaft 10. is projected through the block 15 resting on bearings on the block so that it may rotate.

It will be apparent therefore that movesprocket wheel 30 at pivotally connected at ment of the inner ends 16 of the shafts 10 will occasion a similar movement of the wings 9 but in a reverse direction. Each of the shaft ends 16 which are, as reference to Figure 6 will show, removably fixed to the main portion of the shaft 10 by means of scarf joints 18, has rotatably mounted thereupon at the outermost end a slender guide 20 of which is pointed. A

block 19, one end pair of concave guide members 21 are placed.

This figure 8 is disposed on the concave surface of the guide members 21 so that its longitudinal axis is substantially 45 degrees from a horizontal plane when the machine is in flight, i. e., in the position shown in Fig ure 2. The guide blocks 19 are arranged to lie in grooves 22 of the guide members 21. These guide blocks will remain in the grooves at all times, since the length of that portion of the shafts 10 within the fuselage is equal to the exact radii of the concave surfaces of the guide members.

The purpose of thescarf joints.18 on the shafts 10 is to dismember the inner portions of the shafts 10 so that the wings 9 may be moved backwardly against the sides of the machine in the event the machine is to be transported or any time when not in use, to lessen storage space.

Means for driving the inner shafts 10 so that they may describe a figure 8 within the fuselage and consequently cause the wings 9 to move in the path of the tigure 8, is provided in a pair of connecting rods 23 secured at their upper ends to the portions 16 of the shafts 10 and at their lower ends to a pair of crank arms 24. These crank arms 24 are carried by a sprocket wheel 25.

-The sprocket wheel 25 is driven by means of a chain 26 and by a sprocket 27 mounted upon a shaft 28 which I shall hereinafter refer to as the main shaft.

This main shaft 28, and consequently the sprocket wheel 27 is driven by means of the sprocket chain 29 connected with a driving sprocket wheel 30. A pair of pedal boards 31 are eccentrically connected with the one end thereof and 32 to a pair of hangers 33. These hangers 33 are pivotally fixed at' 3i to the ceiling of the fuselage 1 behind the drivers seat. It is apparent therefore that movement of the pedals 31 by the aviator while standing on the pedals will occasion a rotation of the sprocket portions of the I intense wheel 30, the main shaft 28, the sprocket wheel 25, the crank arms 24, and the connecting rods 28, which in turn will drive the inner ends 16 of the shafts 10 through the path of a figure 8, or in other words, through the grooves 22 on the guide members 21.

The pedal arrangement relative to the sprocket wheel is so fixed that a downward movement of the pedals 31 will at all times cause a downward movement of the wings 9.

Means for automatically assisting further the movement of, the wings 9, as the wings descend, in further resemblance of the birds wings in flight, is provided in a pair of crank arms 35 secured to the outer ends of the main shaft 28. The crank arms 35 are pivotally connected to draw rods or wires 36, the opposite ends of which are pivotally and removably secured at 37 to four tiewires 38. These tie wires 38 are fixed at their opposite ends to four portions of the wing 9 on the under side thereof.

It will he noted from an inspection of Figure 1 that the wings 9 are divided'into two areas by the shaft 10. That portion of the wing area above the'shaft 10 may be considered as the fleshy portion of the birds wing, while that portion below the shaft 10 is fashioned as nearly as possible to resem his the feathered portion of the wing. Tn carrying out this structure (see Figure 3), the extreme outer portion 40 of the wings 9 is constructed with a plurality of feathered portions providing a slight degree," of flexibility on the outer and rear portion of the wings, while the forward and inner portion of the wing is substantially rigid.

A housing 42, stream line in cross section (see Figure 4) is disposed about the main shaft 28 on the exterior of the fuselage, and struts 43 are employed to support the outer end of the housing 42, and bearing members thereupon for the outer ends of the main shaft 28.

Means for guiding the machine laterally and vertically is provided in a single tail construction 44 constructed asnearly as possible in a manner similar to the tail of a bird. This structure 44 comprises a normally horizontal guide plane which is swivelly mounted at 45 to the extreme rearward portion 48oF the fuselage 1. This mounting 45 may be similar to the gimbal structure 11 shown in Figure (3, or any other swivel mounting may be employed. The guide plane has a which may be further described and lower horns, secured thereto the swivel joint 45. These horns connected with the guide as upper adjacent are rigidly plane in such a manner that a movement of the horns will occasion a like movement of the guide plane. A shaft 48, secured at its outer end to the pair of horns 46 and 47,

its length. The lower end 53 of the stick 51 is pivotally attached to oneend of a con- .nectlng bar 54, the opposite end of which is pivotally attached at 55 to a cross bar 56. This cross bar 56 is pivotally secured midway of its length to the shaft 48. Draw rods or wires 57 serve to connect the outer ends of the cross bar 56 to the horns 46 and 47, respectively, so that movement of the stick 51 forward or back will occasion the upward or downward tilting of the guide plane of the tail construction 44. Movement of the stick 51 laterally at its upper end will occasion a rotating motion of the shaft 48 and the consequent lateral tilting of the guide plane, thereby causing the machine to virtually bank in the air and change its course laterallv much after the fashion of a bird. It should be noted at this time that a bird has no portion of its anatomy which maybe considered the equivalent of the lateral rudder of the ordinary type of aeroplane, but instead employs a tail con struction similar to the tail construction herein described. This structure is highly efiicient in maintaining the control of the machine at all times while changing its course in the air.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. it is thought best that at this time a limited description of the movement of the birds wings in flight should be briefly described. Birds in flight out a figure h in the ar with the tips of their wings. in order to describe this movement it have divided it into two parts and will start the description with the wings ele- Vated: The bird strikes forward-downward forward with its wings making a compound curve. At the end of this stroke, the shape of the bones and muscles will not allow the wings to go any further downward so they are naturally forced upward a short distance, something on the principle of a boy coasting down hill on his bicycle, when he gets to the bottom of the hill the momentum carries him over half way up the hill. Owing to the rapidity of this stroke and their concavity, the wings catch the air and compress it on the same principle as the air in a boys pop-gun, and as the wings go down, they form a current of air downward and inward; the air forming a temporary fulcrum at different points along the wing,

lilil liZU all the time.

which point is constantly changing. This stops the downward glide of the bird and starts to raise it upward. As the two wings move toward each other the fulcrum, which is gradually changing, gets nearer the body and the air is compressed so tightly that the current of air passing under the wings strikes the body of the bird and literally forces .it upward, and owing to the peculiar shape of the camber of the wings, the'birdis forced forward by the wings literally slipping forward off of the compressed air. During this movement, the wings are active and the body passive. Flexible wing roots of fabric or other suitable material are employed to span and close the space between the inner ends of the wings and the fuselage. These wing roots 65 are re enforced by resilient cords or the like.

The second half of the stroke, the upwardbackward, upward motion, isa compound curve made in the opposite direction to the downward stroke. As the momentum carries the bird forward, owing to the shape and tension of the muscles and to the air pressure on the upper surface of the wings, the anterior parts glide upward, while the posterior parts lag behind. The muscles are relaxed just enough to rel' eve the strain and rest them for a moment. This leaves the wings to the mercy of the wind and gives the under surface of the wings a broad side to the wind, and as the air impinges on them, the posterior parts areraised until they are about on a level.

As the momentum carrIes the bird forward, the-muscles being relaxed, the wind catches the wings, forces them back as far as they can go, when the shape of the muscles and bones force the wings upward, and

they glide forward, in the same manner as a mans arms if he stands with them outstretched on either side and forces them quickly backward at a slight elevation. This increases the tension of the muscles and expands the wings to their full length, which is a signal for the bird to get ready for the downward stroke, thus completing the double circle, the figure 33- shape motion, usually spoken of as the up and down beat of the win s. During this stroke the wings assume such a position that as the body falls, the air forms a fulcrum under the wings in such a way that the weight of the body forces the wings upward, in this case the body is active and the wings passive. Thus it will be seen that the wings and. body alternately rise and fall during flight.

During the up stroke as the bird is moving forward, the wings appear to move backward, the tipof the wings be ng caught by the/air slacker). their speed. This allows the body of the bird to catch up with them, but

the wings, as a whole,'are moving forward The wings move backward bird movement.

only when the bird is flying slowly, they do not move backward, literally, when the bird is flying fast.

My improved flying machine possesses the necessary mechanism for imitating this As the pedals 31 are actuated, the shaft 28 is driven which in turn drives the sprocket wheel 25 and the crank arms 24:. This as previously described causes the movement of the inner ends 16 of the shafts 10 so that the guide blocks 19 are forced longitudinally of the groove 22 in substantially afigure 8 path, consequently the outer, portion of the wings move in a reverse direction. As the wings get to the end of the down stroke, the inner ends 16 of the shafts 10 are up. As the shaft starts to pull down, the wing shaft being in front of the center of the wing, the front part of the wing is forced up first. This gives the wing abroad side to the wind and as the machine is moving forward, the air catches the back part of the wing and raises it ona level with the front part. At the same time the air holds the wing back whichallows the machine to pass it as far as themechanism will allow. it to go. The shape of the figure 8, viewed in Figure 2, forces the wing upwardto a point where it is ready for thenext downward stroke. it is therefore apparent that the natural elements assist in flying my improved machine- The wings 9 in movement in ordinary flight out a figure track in the air, but when flying fast, this figure & track is reduced to a waved track. After the wing starts down, and the air has been pressed on the under surface ofthe wing to a certain degree, the four tie wires38 steady the wing and hold it in its correct position. As the wing gets to the end ofthe down stroke, the inner end of the wing shaft is up and ready for another complete figure 8 cycle.

The connecting rods 23 are secured to the shafts 10 by means ofeyeson the shafts disposed slightli to one side of the axes of the shafts, where y the shafts are rotated so that the forward portions of the wings tilt downward when the wings descend, and upward when the wings are elevated.

in causing the elevation or lowering of the machine, it is merely necessary to swing the control stick 51 to or away from the pilot seat 7, thereby elevating or lowering the guide plane 44 on its swivel joint 45.

in order to cause the lateral movement of the machine it is necessary to swing the control stick 51 to the left or right, thereby rotating the shaft 18 and causing the lateral tilting of the guide plane ia.

When it isdesired to land and make use of the tail skid 4 alone without the use of the landing wheel 8, the flexible connection 6 is manually drawn partially within the fuselage l, causing the block 5 to as- Nil images on the ground prior to flight, the block 5 is permitted toassume in Figure 2 so that the tactwith the ground.

In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which a novel means is employed to preclude the necessity of the tie Wires 38, the connecting rod 36, and crank arms 35. This mechanism consists in a radially extending arm upon the shaft 10 adjacent the outer end 16 thereof. This arm provided with a whleel 51 rotatably mounted at its outer en A pair of resilient metal shoes 53* and are mounted upon the guide members 21, one adjacent the top and one adjacent the bottom of the groove 22 in such a manner as to cause the wheel 51 to yieldably engage with the shoes 53 and 54 as the shaft -10 is guided along the slot 22 by means of the block 19. When the wheel 51*m0ves into engagement with one of the shoes, as for instance, the Shoe 53 (see Figure-7) the shaft 10 will be tilted forward slightly, causing the necessary forward tilt of the wing 9.

This tilting of the wing or partial rotation of the wing shafts 10 is required at the extreme top and bo'ttom of the guide member 21 to more cleosely simulate the movement of the birds wing.

By securing the wings against vertical movement, my flying machine may be effectually employed as a glider. In order to facilitate o eration of the machine as a glider, the wing shafts are rotated slightly so as. to make use of changes in the air currents.

()bviously an engine or other motive power maybe used to rotate'the shaft 28.

1 claim: 1

1. A flying machine ofthe character described comprim'ng a fuselage, a pair of wings swivelly mounted on said fuselage the position shown wheel 8 may conand having shaft members extending interiorly ofsaid fuselage, a pair of substantially concave guide members, an endless groove having substantially the shape of a figure g, on the concave surface of said guide members, said interiorly extending portions of said shafts being arranged to travel through the groove in said guide members, and means within the fuselage for by air under and means for causing said wing shafts to move through said endless groove.

2. A vflying machine of the character described comprising a fuselage, a pair of wings swivelly mounted on said fuselage and having shaft members extending interiorly of said fuselage, a pair of substantially concave guide members, an endless groove having substantially the shape of a figure 8 on the concave surface of said guide members, said interiorly extending portions of said shafts being arranged to travel through the groove in said guide members, means withinthe fuselage for causing said wing shafts to move through said endless groove, and means associated with said first named means for tilting the forward portion of said wings downwardly as the main portion of said wings is moved downwardly.

3. A flyingmachine of the character described comprising a fuselage, a pair of wings swivelly mounted on sad and having shaft members extending interiorly of said fuselage, a pair of substan tially concave guide members, an endless groove havi g substantially the shape of a figure 8 on the concave surfaces of said guide members, said interiorly threaded portions of said shafts being arranged to travel through the grooves in said guide members, means within the fuselage for causing said wing shafts to move through said endless grooves, and means associated with said first named means for tilting the forward portion of said wings upwardly as the main portion of said wings is moved upwardly. 4. In a flying machine, awing constructed to substantially conform with'the curvature of a birds wing, said wing having a portion resembling the fleshy portion of a birds wing. and the rearward and tip portion resembling the feathered part of the birds wing, said wing being formed with a depression on the under side thereof adjacent the innermost end of the wing, wherepressure may be accumulated and pressed in each of said wings when said wingis moved downwardly. 5 d flying machine of the character de- Oi comprising a fuselage, a pair of wings, swivelly mounted on said fuselage actuating said wings by engagement with the innermost end of said -w1ngs within said fuselage, causing said -Wings to move upon their, fixed swivel uld fuselage 

